2. Why do farmers apply
fertilizers to their crops? How
can an excess of fertilizer harm
crops and organisms living
nearby?

2. farmer apply fertilizers to their crops, Farmers use fertilizer to replenish the nutrients drawn from the soil, which plants need to grow.  

Other half:  Fertilizers cause harm to the environment by polluting land and waters, endangering the health of organisms that inhabit those spaces. Aquatic life may suffer when oxygen levels in the water drop below standard.  

Fertilizers often lack minerals that are healthy for the environment. Over time, they can damage the soil. Not only can fertilizers leave the soil less nutrient-rich, they may also leak into foods meant for consumption, posing risks to human health. Fertilizers destroy microorganisms that are beneficial to the soil and the life that is dependent upon it for growth, including plants and other organisms

Explanation: